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Poll Do Your Family and Friends Support You?

Do Your Family and Friends Support You in Healing Your PTSD?

  • Yes, they try very hard to.

    Votes: 29 14.9%
  • Somewhat, but I wish I had more support.

    Votes: 67 34.5%
  • No, not really.

    Votes: 77 39.7%
  • My family and friends try to sabotage my healing.

    Votes: 21 10.8%

  • Total voters
    194
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batgirl

MyPTSD Pro
In my case, I have a tremendous amount of support. But I continue to be surprised that other people don't. So, I'm curious about people's levels of support, or lack thereof, from relatives, spouse, friends, etc.
 
I am partially ashamed of this, but no. I do not believe I can risk telling my family about this because so many of them also have it from war experiences and from accidents, but everyone is in denial. I question what to do sometimes but there is not much choice with what energy I can spare for anything. I have been able to tell my elder brother and his friend but even then I am hesitant to really explain that much. I have done this for so long already that it is almost too much momentum to change that part of my situation at all. It was not something I wanted to change before, instead it was something I was glad for as it let me keep things hidden, but I wonder how to go on to return to more of life now that I have a desire to live. Still, everyone around me is fragile and many are very close to actually dieing already so I do not want to stress them any more.
 
That must be really hard, Andre, with several people in your family with trauma issues. I know I feel bad enough telling my family things, and they are not fragile at all.
 
I get sabatoged by everyone except my best-freind and my step-mom. They are the only support I have.

*shrugs* can't expect any more than that consider I have PTSD from my family.


bec
 
I have good support now. I have almost 10 phone numbers set out for me and the inlaws willing to drop everything to help in times of need if I crash at home with the little one. Very understanding people, just I am not as willing to let them in and see me down (it is emabarassing). But if I crash with the little one alone I would call. But when it comes from my own family, as is blood... None.
 
An interesting poll Evie... well done, great topic. I choose "somewhat" as I have enough to get by on, though more is always good.
 
My family and friends have been wonderfully supportive of me through this. What's been difficult is accepting that help, especially when this all started. Being the 'strong one' it was hard to accept the support. Now that I figured out I don't have to be that person anymore, it's a lot easier to accept the help and support. And having my husband tell me, 'You've taken care of everyone for 20 years...now it's our turn to take care of you' really blew my mind.

The flip side of this is that there were a lot of people who I thought were friends and would be supportive. When it turned out that their friendship was just a 'good times' friendship that fell apart at the first bad time hit-man did it hurt! But I now know who really cares and who isn't worth my time.
 
I have people in my life that are supportive. My husband can be the strongest support or the last straw for me somtimes. I consider him and my sister my family. My mother? She doesn't get what I struggle with and I don't explain it to her anymore. My dad doesn't know that I have PTSD.
 
My parents are pretty useless although I dont think they mean to be. They just dont know how to help and I dont give them the opportunity to anymore either. Some friends are rubbish but I have found others that are very supportive. One is even training as a therapist so he understands loads of it. My friends and family are divided. The ones that know and help and the ones that do and dont.
 
From what I have observed, most people who know nothing about PTSD will be scared shitless when they learn that the world isn't the fuzzy, warm place that they think it is.
Trauma is something most people are not equiped to handle and that makes them run like chickens when confronted with someone elses pain.
Hell, I wanted to run! It is hard to believe what people will do to the ones they are supposed to love. My wife was abused by family.
What in the Hell short curciuts in a mans head that causes him to hurt the very people that he is supposed to die to protect. You see, I love my wife...More than myself. I am charged by God Himself to protect her from all harm. I can't run. But I can Fight!! I will do all I can to empower her to win against this PTSD!!!
I know that I may not have this condition myself, but when my best friend is affected by it, that makes it personal.
I'm sorry to sound a bit pissed but when I have seen how people have treated Marilyn when she tries to explain this to others I become very protective of her. Most don't understand and just plain don't want to hear about it. They want to stay in their little comfort zone without a worry in the world.. While others suffer.... Not me.. I want to help...

Wayne
 
What in the Hell short curciuts in a mans head that causes him to hurt the very people that he is supposed to die to protect.

Couldn't agree with you more Wayne. This is the very question that goes round in my head daily regarding my brother. Murdered his wife and son, attempted to murder his daughter. Makes no sense to me as a father and husband. Suicide perhaps, but taking your loved ones with you, who you are supposed to protect above your life, as you say? Never !!

waynes said:
I'm sorry to sound a bit pissed but when I have seen how people have treated Marilyn when she tries to explain this to others I become very protective of her. Most don't understand and just plain don't want to hear about it. They want to stay in their little comfort zone without a worry in the world.. While others suffer.... Not me.. I want to help...

Understand this too Wayne, as I am very protective of my niece. You are correct, many families do not wish to help. Frankly it floors me, the number of families that don't help. Disgusting. Never been able to understand it.

Jim.
 
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